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The 17-member provisional squad also included Under-19 uncapped left-arm quick Jannillea Glasgow

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2022Wicketkeeper-batter Natasha McLean and offspinner Sheneta Grimmond have returned to the West Indies Women’s ODI side, having been picked in the 17-member provisional squad for the three ODIs against New Zealand from September 16 to 22 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The squad also included Under-19 uncapped left-arm quick Jannillea Glasgow.Newly-appointed captain Hayley Matthews will lead the side for the first time. This will be West Indies’ first series in any format since they lost the semi-final to eventual champions Australia in the ODI World Cup in March earlier this year.West Indies will be without a few senior players this time, such as Anisa Mohammed, Deandra Dottin and Kycia Knight. While Anisa took a six-month break from cricket earlier this month, Dottin announced a sudden international retirement during the Commonwealth Games last month.Performances in the inaugural Women’s 6ixty and CPL were taken into consideration while picking the squad, a CWI release said. Grimmond took 2 for 22 for Trinbago Knight Riders in the victorious CPL final and claimed another four wickets in her 6.2 overs in the 6ixty. Glasgow also represented Trinbago Knight Riders in the two tournaments but she barely got chances to bat or bowl.Grimmond last played for West Indies in Pakistan in November last year, whereas McLean’s last international game was a T20I in September 2020, and her last ODI was in November 2019. McLean has the experience of 30 ODIs to her name and Grimmond has seven.”The New Zealand series is very important on the women’s cricket landscape not only because it starts a new cycle, but also because it is part of the preparation leading towards the T20 World Cup in South Africa,” lead selector for women’s cricket Ann Browne-John said. “With a few senior players unavailable at this time, for different reasons, like the experienced Anisa Mohammed, Kycia Knight and recently retired Deandra Dottin, the selectors were still able to get a blend of senior and developing players including Under-19 player Jannillea Glasgow and returning players Natasha McLean and Sheneta Grimmond. Ultimately, we believe that captain Hayley Matthews, in her first series, will have a promising squad of players to start building with.”Allrounder Mandy Mangru, 22, and left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz have also joined the players in Antigua for a ten-day training camp led by head coach Courtney Walsh. Mangu and Glasgow were handed development contracts when CWI had announced the annual retainers in June.CWI said a match-day squad of 13 players will be selected ahead of each ODI. The ODIs will be followed by five T20Is from September 25 to October 6, which will also be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.The ODIs will be part of the new Women’s Championship cycle in which both West Indies and New Zealand are yet to play a game.ODI squad Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean (wk), Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams

He and captain Erasmus urge team to use disappointment of early exit as launching pad for “another phase of success”

Firdose Moonda20-Oct-20225:07

Erasmus: ‘Difficult to put the loss into words’

David Wiese has batted his team to tense victories in the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League and the Vitality Blast. He has won trophies with some of those teams, like in the 2022 PSL, and has also lost a lot of matches playing for those teams. But over 15 years, he has played for long enough to know that’s how things go in multi-team tournaments. So why was he among the most devastated when Namibia failed to get over the line against UAE?”As a cricketer, you play in all of these different tournaments but it’s always nice to have that home base. It’s always nice to have a team you can resonate with, a team that is close to your heart and a team that you know their heart is in the right place,” he said. “Being a tournament player, it’s quite often you’re in for four weeks and then out; and quite often about self preservation: you do well in that tournament, you get picked up in the next one. It’s a different story playing for your country. There is a pride playing for your country.”Related

• Agony turns ecstasy as World Cup pendulum swings Netherlands' way

• Waseem stars in UAE's narrow win, squeezes Netherlands into Super 12s

Wiese is Namibian through his father, but was born in and spent the bulk of his career playing in neighbouring South Africa. It has been little more than a year since he made his debut for his new country but the Namibian players and their team environment have nuzzled their way into his heart. And home, they say, is where the heart is.”The attachment I have got for these guys, they are such hard working guys, such good human beings, I just want the best for them. That’s just the main thing,” he said. “I always believe good things happen to good people and it’s a really good bunch of guys, good, hard-working lads. The most disappointing part is that for them, they wouldn’t get the opportunity to showcase their skills in the next round.”That, and the extra USD $30,000 they would have received even if they did not win a single match at the Super12s.This tournament is likely to be the most exposure their team will get in 2022, without any other televised matches; in fact, it is also the most they may get until 2024, when the next T20 World Cup rolls out.Now that all of those hopes are gone, captain Gerhard Erasmus is not sure if the pain is about the money, the pride or something else altogether.”I can’t really put it into words,” Erasmus said. “Last year we were at the other end of this. It’s tough to try to decipher in the last two games where it went wrong.”In the immediate aftermath, with emotions running high, Erasmus can be forgiven for not wanting to analyse too much. When he does, he will see that it’s not that difficult to ascertain where Namibia fell short. Their top order failed to fire in each of the three games, without many runs on the board. They were 35 for 3 against Sri Lanka, 32 for 3 against Netherlands and 26 for 3 against UAE. All those scores put the middle order under pressure and exposed their over-reliance on the likes of Wiese and Jan Frylinck, who bailed them out successfully against Sri Lanka. Two more “rescue jobs,” as Erasmus put it, were always going to be unlikely.David Wiese – “I’ve still got a lot of cricket in me, for Namibia”•AFP/Getty Images

What he wanted was for his team to play a “proper game of cricket,” which did not involve any get-out-of-jail style efforts but as Wiese reminded sometimes, “the games writes its own scripts,” despite the best-laid plans of the players.”As a leader you want to start off well, play a proper game and win properly although that doesn’t always happen,” Erasmus said. “We stuck to it very nicely to try and put a good fight into both of those games. It speaks a lot to our culture and our way of playing. I’m really proud of that – of the guys, of the coaching staff and how we have responded in tough situations, But as a cricketer, you would have liked to play one proper game of cricket, skills wise, and take the two points and qualify.”So what now for Namibia, who have sought external resources including hiring both Albie and Morne Morkel (as assistant coach and bowling consultant respectively) and were banking on being able to test themselves against the world’s best for the next three weeks?”Often in tough situations like this is when you shape new great things to happen. I’ve seen many teams use some form of disappointment to recreate another phase of success for themselves. So, I really look forward to doing that with the team and look forward to doing that as a leader,” Erasmus said. “It’s very important for us, over the next four-months, to really nail our one-day cricket and get the maximum points in the one-day League. This disappointment should just really sort of spur us forward to more of that success. It’s not too long, and then there’s another T20 World Cup and great opportunities for the guys to play.”Namibia play in the ICC’s Cricket World Cup League 2, where they lie in fifth place. The top three teams will advance to the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifying competition, which will take place in Zimbabwe next June. Two teams from that event will play at the 2023 World Cup. A more realistic goal for Namibia will be the 2024 T20 World Cup, an expanded tournament which will feature 20 teams. There are several routes for them to take to get there, including finishing in the top 12 on the rankings (they are currently 14th) or via a regional qualifier. Whichever it is, they are guaranteed one thing: Wiese wants to be part of their plans.”There’s another World Cup in 2024 and that’s my next goal. I am still feeling good and playing as well as I ever have,” he said. “As long as they’ll have me, I will keep coming back for them.”Wiese will be 39 when the next T20 World Cup takes place but maintains he is far from finished. “I’ve still got a lot of cricket left in me,” he said, pausing before adding. “For Namibia.”

Marcus Stoinis put paid to hopes of victory in Perth but coach saw plenty to be encouraged by

Tristan Lavalette26-Oct-20220:39

Silverwood on Hasaranga – ‘We will build him back up, support him’

Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood remains optimistic his unfancied team can make a push at a semi-final berth despite a seven-wicket defeat to Australia at Optus Stadium, but their cursed injury run continued with quick Binura Fernando suffering a hamstring injury.In foreign bouncy conditions, Sri Lanka sniffed a major upset when under pressure Australia slumped to 89 for 3 in the 13th over chasing 158.But the shorthanded Sri Lanka attack, without Fernando who limped off the field unable to complete the opening over of the innings, succumbed to a furious assault from Marcus Stoinis, who smashed Australia’s fastest T20I half-century to finish with a match-winning 59 off 18 balls.Related

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“We knew Australia had to come hard at us because of their net run rate,” Silverwood said. “The way he [Stoinis] came back at us and struck the ball was exceptional.”It leaves both teams on one victory apiece in Group 1 with Sri Lanka to face New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday in a must win contest.”I truly believe that we can not only challenge this group, but come out victorious,” Silverwood said. “I think we’ve shown we have the capabilities and the skills within the group.Five balls into the first over, Binura Fernando felt some discomfort and left the field•AFP/Getty Images

“We showed that in the Asia Cup and the confidence is growing within the group. The important thing from today is to regroup and get ready for the next game.”Silverwood was particularly encouraged by Sri Lanka’s spirited batters, who were able to mostly thwart Australia’s star quicks on a fast Optus Stadium wicket, which mirrors the famous nearby WACA.”I can’t fault the way the guys at the top of the order played,” he said. “The ball did move around early on. Life was difficult for us. We’re not used to that sort of bounce that we get here in Perth. The way they went about their business to set that platform…they did very well.”Fernando, however, faces a race against time to play against New Zealand after clutching at his right hamstring just five deliveries into Australia’s innings to continue Sri Lanka’s wretched injury run with Danushka Gunathilaka, Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka already casualties.”We’ll obviously assess him [Fernando] and the physios are working with him,” Silverwood said. “We’ll find out exactly the extent of the injury and we’ll have to make some decisions from there.”Starting in Geelong for the first round, Sri Lanka have undergone arduous travel having played in Hobart against Ireland on Sunday before the long trek across the Nullarbor to Perth.”It’s been hectic at times…it’s something you’ve just got to get used to,” Silverwood said. “You’ve got to try and plan the best you can with training and give people time to rest.”

Bangladesh A still trail by 181 runs after visitors declare on 465 for 5

Mohammad Isam01-Dec-2022Bangladesh A were on the path to recovery on the third day of the first four-day Test against India A in Cox’s Bazar courtesy Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Zakir was unbeaten on 81 while Shanto finished 56 not out, with the duo adding 101 runs for the unbroken second wicket.The home side ended the day on 172 for 1, still trailing India A by 181 runs.The third day started with the visitors on 404 for 5, and they batted for a further 15 overs to finish on 465 for 5 to take an overall lead of 353 runs. Upendra Yadav remained unbeaten 71 off 122 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Tilak Varma retired hurt on 33 off 100 balls. The Bangladesh A bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in these 15 overs.Bangladesh, who were skittled out for 112 in their first stint gave a much better account of themselves the second time around. Their openers Zakir and Mahmudul Hasan Joy added 71 runs for the opening stand before the latter fell to left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar in India A’s only success on the day, having made 21.Zakir, however, remained firm at the other end, hitting eight fours and two sixes during his stay at the crease. Shanto, coming in at No. 3, gave him good support, scoring seven fours during his knock.By the stumps were drawn, Bangladesh A were still quite a distance behind India A’s score, so the fourth day will be an opportunity for these two left-handers to get a bigger score, followed by Mominul Haque, who is desperately looking for runs.

Sri Lanka head coach also rued missed opportunities on the field, especially the two drops of Kohli

Hemant Brar11-Jan-2023Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood rued the lack of discipline from his bowlers after his side’s 67-run loss to India in the first ODI in Guwahati.Sri Lanka had put India in after winning the toss but Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill seized the momentum for the hosts with a 143-run stand in just 19.4 overs. Virat Kohli then scored his 45th ODI hundred to help India post a daunting 373 for 7.Related

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“Obviously, we didn’t get off to the best start,” Silverwood said after the match. “If I have to be brutally honest, our discipline in the first ten overs was lacking at times, and we allowed India to get off to a good start. This is a high-scoring ground. India knew that they had to get off to a good start and we allowed them to do that.”They gained momentum from that and we had to push back all the time to try to put the brakes on. And I think we did that for a period of time. But when you have a class batting line-up as India have, then it’s difficult to stop them.”Sri Lanka’s fielding was found wanting as well. They dropped Kohli twice, first on 52 and then on 81. He went on to score 113 off just 87 balls.”Yeah, obviously they were costly,” Silverwood said of the dropped catches. “The moments like that are very critical in a game like this – we knew it was going to be a high-scoring one. And we all know if you give a player of Virat’s calibre opportunities, he would take it. And that’s exactly what he did today.”Of course, it was an excellent knock but had we taken those opportunities he presented, you never know.”In response, Sri Lanka were 206 for 8 at one stage before their captain Dasun Shanaka added 100 with Kasun Rajitha in an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership. Shanaka finished with an unbeaten 108 but his innings only reduced the margin of the defeat.Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s highest run-getter during the T20I series as well. While Silverwood lauded Shanaka, he didn’t agree the side was overly reliant on him, pointing out that Pathum Nissanka too scored 72 on Tuesday and added 72 with Dhananjaya de Silva for the fourth wicket.

Watch on ESPN Player in the UK

WATCH the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI full replay

“I think he [Shanaka] has done himself a world of good,” Silverwood said. “He has put himself in the marketplace now. I am sure the [IPL] franchises will be looking at him [Shanaka was unsold at the auction] and seeing how dynamic a cricketer he is. He is a great striker of the ball, so hopefully, he will get an opportunity.”[But] I don’t think we rely [only] on Dasun. He is in a great vein of form at the moment, so obviously he is shining. If you look, we had Pathum also score runs today. I thought the partnership between him and Dhananjaya gave us some momentum when they were together.”We have seen over a period of time that each individual at times has put their hand up and been counted. So I am not overly worried about that. Obviously, we need them to put their hands up more, especially on very good tracks like this, to put that fight up, to build partnerships. So that’s a constant work.”With just one day’s gap before the next game, Sri Lanka will also be fretting about Dilshan Madushanka’s injury. The left-arm seamer had walked off when he hurt his right shoulder while trying to make a stop in the field. Silverwood said he would go for an X-ray to make sure everything is okay.

Tasmania face the prospect of a huge first-innings deficit after their top order folded

AAP12-Feb-2023Sean Abbott led the way as New South Wales secured a massive advantage over Tasmania at the midway point of their must-win Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the SCG.Tasmania slumped to 5 for 89 at stumps, trailing by 328 runs. Daniel Hughes starred for NSW with his career-best 178 and eighth first-class century easily eclipsing a previous high of 136.In contrast to NSW’s showing at the crease, Tasmania’s top-order struggled with only Ben McDermott (22 not out) remaining defiant.Related

• Hughes' career-best gives New South Wales strong platform

• Holland takes three as Victoria's bowlers combine to secure big victory

Abbott claimed three wickets – all bowled – for figures of 3 for 20 with NSW restricting the visitors to less than two runs an over.Australian white-ball star Adam Zampa bowled six overs and returned 0 for 14 in his first Shield match at the SCG since 2018.Earlier, NSW had little trouble earlier in the day building on their overnight 3 for 272. Hughes was finally undone by a marvellous sprawling catch from wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Nathan Ellis.Peter Siddle collected two wickets from as many balls as Matthew Gilkes and Abbott were dispatched back to the pavilion. But there was to be no shift in momentum as Chris Green joined Jason Sangha in contributing half centuries.Green’s 59 not out was his first red-ball half-century in just a third Shield outing for the BBL regular.With four rounds remaining, NSW went into the match without a win in the six games played before the mid-season break.

England star to miss start of campaign due to IPL, as he resumes career at Edgbaston

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2023Moeen Ali will captain Warwickshire in the T20 Blast this summer, having re-signed for the club after 16 years with Worcestershire.Moeen left the club as a young player in 2006 after struggling for opportunities under then-head coach Mark Greatbatch, but agreed a deal to return to the club on a three-year, white-ball contract last year.He has previously captained Worcestershire and Birmingham Phoenix in short-form cricket, and has led England in one ODI and 11 T20Is.”I’m really grateful to be given the opportunity to captain my hometown club,” Moeen said. “I grew up just a short walk from Edgbaston, always dreamed of playing at this great stadium when I was a child, and now to be made captain is something special.”I’ve had several proud moments in my cricket career but becoming Bears captain having returned to Edgbaston after 16 years is without doubt one of highlights.”Moeen will miss the start of the Blast season while playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and Alex Davies will deputise for him after his appointment as Warwickshire’s vice-captain across formats.Warwickshire, playing under their Birmingham Bears moniker, were eliminated in the Blast’s quarter-finals last year and have brought in Glenn Maxwell and Hasan Ali as overseas signings in their bid to reach Finals Day in 2023.”The squad looks incredible,” Moeen said. “There’s talent right through the line-up from top to bottom. But what I’m really encouraged about is that there are some young players who, like me, came up through the pathway and academy system at Edgbaston.”Mark Robinson, Warwickshire’s coach, said: “Moeen is not only an extremely talented cricketer, but a leader on and off the pitch. Anyone who has spent time with Mo talks positively about his ability to motivate a team, whilst staying calm in the most pressurised moments.”Mo has led teams in many franchise leagues around the world and I know how excited he is to be a Bear and lead us at Edgbaston. We’re all excited to see him and we’re really looking forward to welcoming him into the changing room.”

Ireland were five runs behind the DLS par score when rain forced an early end to the game

Srinidhi Ramanujam20-Feb-2023India advanced to the semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup with a five-run win over Ireland in their final group game, which was affected by rain in Gqeberha. India opener Smriti Mandhana’s 87 guided them to 155 for 6 after Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat.The match was abandoned due to rain after it was halted at 8.2 overs when Ireland were 54 for 2, five runs behind the DLS par-score of 59. Ireland, thereby, have ended their T20 World Cup campaign with four defeats in as many matches while India, with three victories from four matches, have qualified for the knockouts along with England.Unless England lose to Pakistan in their final league game, India will play Australia in the first semi-final.

Mandhana notches career-best T20I score

Mandhana notched up her best T20I score of 87 in windy conditions, albeit with several missed chances. Along with Shafali Verma, she stitched a 62-run partnership for the opening wicket, but it was not in the smoothest manner. Both Mandhana and Shafali looked to go big in the initial overs, with the latter particularly struggling to middle the ball. Shafali’s stay was cut short by Ireland captain Laura Delany when she was caught at deep square leg for a 29-ball 24.Harmanpreet, who came in at No.3 instead of Jemimah Rodrigues, couldn’t shift gears in testing conditions and eventually fell for 13 off 20 balls when she tried to go against the wind over deep midwicket. Orla Prendergast, the fielder, took an excellent catch to bring Ireland into the game.Mandhana, on the other hand, despite having a scratchy start to her innings – in which she was dropped on 29, 31, 46 and 70 – changed her approach after racing to her 22nd T20I fifty from 40 balls. Getting the timing right while looking to clear the boundary by hitting with the wind worked as she smashed four fours and two sixes in 16 balls after the half-century.Laura Delany celebrates with her teammates after dismissing Shafali Verma•ICC via Getty Images

From 63 for 1 after ten overs, India put on 92 runs in the final ten, with 50 of those runs coming in the last five overs. However, Ireland fought back at the death with five wickets, including two two-wicket overs each from Prendergast and Delany. Like Mandhana, they also tweaked their approach, with change of pace and lengths to exert pressure.Rodrigues, at three-down, chipped in with a quickfire 19 to lift the team to the highest total at St George’s Park for a women’s international game.For Ireland, Delany was their best bowler in terms of wickets, with three scalps for 33 and Prendergast finished with figures of 2 for 22.

Wind, rain and an Ireland chase

Throughout the game, players were tested on their ability to play with and against the wind before the rain took over. Ireland, chasing 156, were under pressure straightaway after losing two wickets in the first over of the innings. The first delivery saw Amy Hunter being run-out when she hesitated to take the second run and Rodrigues, the cover fielder, fired in a throw at the striker’s end to effect an easy dismissal. Four balls later, Renuka Singh bowled Prendergast, Ireland’s top scorer in their previous match against West Indies, out for duck.However, the two early wickets did not derail Gaby Lewis and Delany as the duo started finding boundaries against both pace and spin. Lewis remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 before the rain halted the game.

It is learnt that USA Cricket has approved MLC as well as Minor League Cricket, meaning both events can go ahead as planned

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2023The ICC has given official sanction to Major League Cricket (MLC), the USA’s big leap into the world of T20 leagues, removing a significant obstacle to the league launching in July this year. A long-simmering dispute between the league’s organisers and USA Cricket, the country’s official cricket administrative body, had threatened to disrupt the league starting this year.However, USA Cricket announced on Thursday night in a brief statement that it has approved MLC as well as Minor League Cricket (MiLC), meaning that both events can go ahead as planned. Crucially, it means that ICC members are now free to issue NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to any of their players picked by MLC sides to participate in the league.”Over the past few months, we have worked diligently with Ace [American Cricket Enterprises, the parent body of MLC and MILC] to ensure that the MLC and MiLC are positioned well to support the growth of cricket in the United States,” said USA Cricket in a press release.USA Cricket had previously given sanction to MiLC, for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but soon after the MLC’s player draft, the ICC’s operations department sent a communication to members flagging the issue for overseas players wishing to play in both competitions. “Members may be aware of the following two events that are proposed to be played in the USA,” the ICC had said of the events, both administered by ACE, which signed a 50-year commercial rights agreement with USA Cricket in 2019.Related

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“Applications for sanction have been submitted to USA Cricket, but these events have not yet been sanctioned by USA Cricket. Consequently, without a sanction from the host member, both events are currently deemed to be Disapproved Cricket and as such, Members should not issue NOCs to their players to participate in either event.”The draft, held on March 19 at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, saw stars such as Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Quinton de Kock sign for teams in the league. In total six teams will play in the 18-day event in Texas that starts from July 13 – as with several other leagues, some of the franchises are owned by owners of IPL franchises.”Last month’s historic MLC Domestic Player Draft in Houston generated incredible momentum for the inaugural Major League Cricket season this summer,” MLC tournament director Justin Geale told ESPNcricinfo following the confirmation that USA Cricket had given sanctioning approval to MLC. “Our six MLC teams will each be announcing a number of marquee international player signings in the coming weeks that will generate more excitement, and we will be sharing news on the schedule, ticket sales and broadcast details soon.”We’re now just three months away from many of the world’s best players taking the field in Texas at an outstanding new cricket venue in Grand Prairie. We can’t wait to bring the American cricket community together there and launch this ground breaking competition.”The dispute between USA Cricket and ACE which caused the delay in sanctioning MLC and MiLC stems from the original short-form agreement the two signed in 2019. In that agreement, ACE keeps 95% of all gross revenues generated by MLC while USA Cricket receives the remaining 5%, but USA Cricket has wanted to revise that for more favourable terms, before a long-form agreement is signed. USA Cricket reiterated that sentiment in Thursday’s press release.”We look forward to working with Ace to provide governance of the tournaments,” stated USA Cricket in the press release. “Finally, we will review our commercial relationship with Ace over the next few months.”

A recap of the form of the Australian players in county cricket and the IPL who now switch focus to India and England

Andrew McGlashan22-May-20231:29

Moody: Massive step for Green in his IPL career

Steven Smith

In the end, Smith only managed three innings for Sussex but looked in decent touch, although wore an increasingly miffed expression each time he was given lbw. It’s likely the DRS would have had a good workout had it been in place. Whether it is a genuine tactic for England during the Ashes to bowl straight remains to be seen; he is a prolific player through the leg side and they have fallen into that trap before.

Marnus Labuschagne

Face a lot of balls, score a lot of runs. It’s a regular pattern for Labuschagne who has tuned up for India and the Ashes with more than 500 runs. It was a quiet start with 17 and 5 in his opening match against Durham, but after that he strung together 64, 65, 170*, 42, 1 and 138. The pair of scores at Headingley could yet be significant. He made twin fifties there in the 2019 Ashes. While his newly-introduced offspin adds another string (and brought a career-best 4 for 89) it’s probably fair to say things won’t be going to plan if it’s seen too much over the six Tests.Related

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• Green century and Madhwal four-for help Mumbai Indians finish fourth

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Marcus Harris

Another very solid county stint for Harris who, alongside Matt Renshaw, is one of the additional top-order options in Australia’s squad should a decision need to be made regarding Warner. Harris now averages 49.67 across his various county spells with Gloucestershire and Leicestershire, passing 10,000 first-class runs in the latest round of matches. Alongside an average of 46.81 for Victoria since the 2019 Ashes, Harris has certainly put the domestic runs on the board. After a home summer of being the spare batter, he may soon get the chance to show whether he can translate that consistently to Test cricket.

Michael Neser

He’s looking a pretty handy official or unofficial reserve at the moment. It’s not quite as simple as just saying that Neser should play in the Ashes – there are some high-quality players to dislodge – but he can’t have done much more and if there was ever a horse for a course Neser would be it, particularly with the Ashes being played earlier than has become the norm. However, there is also the sneaking suspicion that Neser could be one of the very unlucky cricketers who does get what his numbers suggest he deserves.Michael Neser drives through the covers during his final-day century•Getty Images

Sean Abbott

Abbott comes in the same bracket as Neser, although has yet to earn a Test debut. He, too, will be part of Australia’s preparation camp although not, as yet, part of the full squad. His returns with bat and ball for Surrey speak of a player who, more often than not, finds a way to contribute for whichever team he is part of. “His control of line and length, his pace, is just right for the amount of movement he can generate in the air,” Greg Shipperd, the incoming New South Wales coach, said earlier this month. “Through his T20 skill development he has learned to bowl a lot of cutters and is able to seam the ball in conditions. To right- or left-handers he presents a handful” Meanwhile, at the IPL…

David Warner

It should come as little surprise that Warner strung together a decent IPL although his strike-rate was a regular talking point. He signed off with 86 from 53 balls against CSK but in another match Capitals lost heavily. Clearly the scoring rate will be less of a factor come Test cricket, but whether the run-scoring form can be translated only time will tell. Mohammad Shami around the wicket with a new Dukes ball at The Oval will likely reveal more.

Cameron Green

Green’s scintillating maiden T20 hundred is the modern-day double-edged sword. Having come with the burden of a massive price tag he will leave with some notable successes, but helping Mumbai to the playoffs means he could be at the IPL right until the end, further cutting into his time to prepare for the WTC final. Last season he found the transition hard from T20 to Tests, but in a sign of his growth looked much more at home in India when he returned from an injury layoff.Cameron Green got to his century with the winning hit for Mumbai Indians•BCCI

Josh Hazlewood

Nine overs and an early return home. It’s precious little to make a judgement on how Test-ready Hazlewood may be as he looks to play more than one match in a series for the first time since early 2021. His IPL stint had been talked up as the ideal launching pad to build workload but he only managed playing three games and didn’t bowl four overs in any of them. Although CA has insisted he’s on track for the WTC final, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was held back.

Mitchell Marsh

A lean tournament with the bat for Marsh – and 63 of his runs came in one innings – after he’d come into it on the crest of a wave after his outstanding ODI performances. Missed Capitals’ last couple of matches with what is understood to be a minor adductor strain. Had earned what was effectively the final spot in the Ashes squad as direct cover for Green.